NY brothers charged in plot to steal $5M New York Lottery ticket

They waited until shortly before the $5 million winning ticket in a scratch-off lottery game would have been worthless. Then, when two brothers from the Syracuse area went to claim the prize, they made an unusual offer: They told state lottery officials that they would be happy to take home less than the full amount if they could avoid a news conference.

The officials made them wait some more, saying a security check had to be completed before the big payday.

But "security check" turned out to be another name for an investigation that ultimately led to the brothers' arrest on Tuesday on larceny and other charges. The authorities said the two brothers had tricked the actual winner, a customer at their parents' convenience store.

The brothers — Andy Ashkar, 34, and Nayel Ashkar, 36 — were charged with attempted grand larceny and conspiracy. The Onondaga County district attorney, William J. Fitzpatrick, said in a statement that Andy Ashkar was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property, the ticket in the "$500 Million Extravaganza" game, sold in October 2006.

Andy Ashkar told the buyer at the time that it was only a $5,000 winner and, after pocketing $1,000 as a "fee," gave the man $4,000, according to the statement from Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Mr. Fitzpatrick said in the statement that when the Ashkars went to the lottery's headquarters in Schenectady in March of this year, they were told they would have to wait for the "security check."

The next milestone mentioned in Mr. Fitzpatrick's statement was an article last month in The Post-Standard of Syracuse about the Ashkars and the winning ticket — a story Mr. Fitzpatrick said "was actually put out by the lottery security division in an effort to have the real winner come forward." Other news outlets including The Associated Press also carried the report, based on a news release from the lottery's communications office.

John Lammers, the enterprise editor of The Post-Standard, said the newspaper assigned two reporters to the story because the editors wondered why the lottery had disclosed so much in a news release. Usually, he said, the lottery waits to announce a winner's identity at a news conference.

"Nobody put a fast one over on us," he said. "We were suspicious of this from the get-go. Something was going on.

"We put it on the front page because of all the red flags, and our readers got it immediately."

The lottery's news release said Andy Ashkar had bought the ticket but had waited to redeem it "out of concern that the winning ticket could negatively influence his life if he did not plan properly before being publicly introduced."

"Most notably," the news release said, "Ashkar said he did not want the winning ticket to influence his engagement and subsequent marriage." The release also said that Andy Ashkar wanted to share the money with his brother "to show his appreciation for all that Nayel had done for him during his life."

Carolyn Hapeman, a spokeswoman for the lottery, said at the time that it was "unusual" for the lottery "to send out a prerelease about an upcoming winner event." The news release said the lottery "requires" players who win $1 million or more to attend a news conference.

"We've been getting a lot of calls about this particular ticket and these individuals," she said on Oct. 17, "and rather than anybody question 'Is it true? Is it true?' we sent out what we know thus far." On Tuesday, she referred questions about the case to Mr. Fitzpatrick's office.

His statement said the false release had served its purpose; the real winner had come forward "and will hopefully be awarded his actual winnings pending the conclusion of the case against the Ashkar brothers."

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Ronnie316 was the first one in LP to say, "I smell a rat" and "sounds fishy to me". Congrats NY Lottery for catching another fraudulent claim and returning the winnings to the rightful lucky lottery player. I think that winner would be due interest since they should be able to determine the date he/she received the bogus $4,000 payout from the brothers.

li hate scratchoffs...for me, they have been nothing but worthless pieces of hard card paper. Got my eye on that $5,000 per Week For Life but I feel better about taking the astronomical odds playing the online games since I don't have to be in the right store at the right time to purchase the right scratch-off game...just let my 6 numbers match and I AM RICH B-YATCH!

Get MONEY!!! Winning a JACKPOT lottery is all the HOPE and CHANGE I desire!!! NOW give me MONEY!

The guy who won the presidency in 2008 really won the lottery...he is now millions richer, travels in first class style, and even has a staff that would be the envy of the richest Powerball winner (she has a staff of 2). Every night he goes to sleep, he probably plays the close of Dave Chappelle's Show: I'm rich beyatch!

Ronnie316 was the first one in LP to say, "I smell a rat" and "sounds fishy to me". Congrats NY Lottery for catching another fraudulent claim and returning the winnings to the rightful lucky lottery player. I think that winner would be due interest since they should be able to determine the date he/she received the bogus $4,000 payout from the brothers.

li hate scratchoffs...for me, they have been nothing but worthless pieces of hard card paper. Got my eye on that $5,000 per Week For Life but I feel better about taking the astronomical odds playing the online games since I don't have to be in the right store at the right time to purchase the right scratch-off game...just let my 6 numbers match and I AM RICH B-YATCH!

Ronnie316 was right on the money!

Next time I suspect rats are infesting my home, I will be calling him first.

Ronnie316 was the first one in LP to say, "I smell a rat" and "sounds fishy to me". Congrats NY Lottery for catching another fraudulent claim and returning the winnings to the rightful lucky lottery player. I think that winner would be due interest since they should be able to determine the date he/she received the bogus $4,000 payout from the brothers.

li hate scratchoffs...for me, they have been nothing but worthless pieces of hard card paper. Got my eye on that $5,000 per Week For Life but I feel better about taking the astronomical odds playing the online games since I don't have to be in the right store at the right time to purchase the right scratch-off game...just let my 6 numbers match and I AM RICH B-YATCH!

Good shout out to Ronnie316!!!!

The brothers said they'd be willing to take less money to avoid a news conference!

Seriously? Who does that?

As many members here on L.P. worried about remaining anonymous, would you take LESS MONEY

just so your name would not get out there? I don't think so!!!! I'd ALL my money and forget about

They waited until shortly before the $5 million winning ticket in a scratch-off lottery game would have been worthless. Then, when two brothers from the Syracuse area went to claim the prize, they made an unusual offer: They told state lottery officials that they would be happy to take home less than the full amount if they could avoid a news conference.

The officials made them wait some more, saying a security check had to be completed before the big payday.

But "security check" turned out to be another name for an investigation that ultimately led to the brothers' arrest on Tuesday on larceny and other charges. The authorities said the two brothers had tricked the actual winner, a customer at their parents' convenience store.

The brothers — Andy Ashkar, 34, and Nayel Ashkar, 36 — were charged with attempted grand larceny and conspiracy. The Onondaga County district attorney, William J. Fitzpatrick, said in a statement that Andy Ashkar was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property, the ticket in the "$500 Million Extravaganza" game, sold in October 2006.

Andy Ashkar told the buyer at the time that it was only a $5,000 winner and, after pocketing $1,000 as a "fee," gave the man $4,000, according to the statement from Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Mr. Fitzpatrick said in the statement that when the Ashkars went to the lottery's headquarters in Schenectady in March of this year, they were told they would have to wait for the "security check."

The next milestone mentioned in Mr. Fitzpatrick's statement was an article last month in The Post-Standard of Syracuse about the Ashkars and the winning ticket — a story Mr. Fitzpatrick said "was actually put out by the lottery security division in an effort to have the real winner come forward." Other news outlets including The Associated Press also carried the report, based on a news release from the lottery's communications office.

John Lammers, the enterprise editor of The Post-Standard, said the newspaper assigned two reporters to the story because the editors wondered why the lottery had disclosed so much in a news release. Usually, he said, the lottery waits to announce a winner's identity at a news conference.

"Nobody put a fast one over on us," he said. "We were suspicious of this from the get-go. Something was going on.

"We put it on the front page because of all the red flags, and our readers got it immediately."

The lottery's news release said Andy Ashkar had bought the ticket but had waited to redeem it "out of concern that the winning ticket could negatively influence his life if he did not plan properly before being publicly introduced."

"Most notably," the news release said, "Ashkar said he did not want the winning ticket to influence his engagement and subsequent marriage." The release also said that Andy Ashkar wanted to share the money with his brother "to show his appreciation for all that Nayel had done for him during his life."

Carolyn Hapeman, a spokeswoman for the lottery, said at the time that it was "unusual" for the lottery "to send out a prerelease about an upcoming winner event." The news release said the lottery "requires" players who win $1 million or more to attend a news conference.

"We've been getting a lot of calls about this particular ticket and these individuals," she said on Oct. 17, "and rather than anybody question 'Is it true? Is it true?' we sent out what we know thus far." On Tuesday, she referred questions about the case to Mr. Fitzpatrick's office.

His statement said the false release had served its purpose; the real winner had come forward "and will hopefully be awarded his actual winnings pending the conclusion of the case against the Ashkar brothers."

There was no answer at the Ashkar family's store or at their homes.

As for the real winner, the authorities did not release his name.

Like i said back then " Ticket no good, i throw away for you " and i was castigated by factorem for being a "racist" ok Mr Factorem , where are you now, show your face. I rest my case......

never take advise from someone unless you are willing to live their lifestyle